What is Zinc Oxide? Basically it’s a white powder made from oxidising zinc. Have you heard of it? You most probably have used it many times before. Zinc Oxide is a common active ingredient found in sunscreens, Nappy rash creams, calamine lotions, etc. Zinc oxide is most commonly added to topical solutions such as moisturisers, sunscreens, makeup products like foundations, and so on.
So what’s so good about this white powder? Well, let me tell you…
1. Protects from sun damage. Research has found that zinc has natural sun protection benefits. Zinc Oxide reflects and absorbs the harmful UVA and UVB rays. This blocks the harmful rays from penetrating your skin. However the efficacy of this ingredient completely depends on its concentration.
Usually sunscreens contain 25% to 30% of zinc oxide.
2. Heals the skin Zinc has a natural ability to heal wounds. People suffering from skin damage like sunburn, tenderness, or wounds (big and small) can use zinc oxide to heal the skin from within and soothe it.
3. Controls excess oil Are you a person like me who has oily skin? Well Zinc Oxide can help here too. It works as an astringent when you apply it topically. It controls the oil formation beneath the skin and prevents oil from being produced. This also helps to maintain the oil balance which also decreases the risk of acne breakouts.
4. Goodbye Acne Studies have shown that the anti-inflammatory properties of Zinc help to treat skin conditions such as acne. (As well as the whole oil balance thing above). Zinc also helps kill the bacteria that cause the breakouts in the first place.
5. Prevents Bacterial Infections – Zinc is antimicrobial & anti-inflammatory. As mentioned earlier, it can heal wounds. These qualities help to lower the chances of bacterial infection. A 2003 study suggested that Zinc Oxide decreases the risk of developing a bacterial infection by preventing the internalisation of the bacteria.
Uses of Zinc Oxide.
1. As a sunscreen. Remember sunscreen needs to be applied 30 minutes before you go out into the sun. To completely protect yourself from sun damage, use high quality sunscreen and apply to your face, neck, top of the ears and basically anywhere the sun can get to. Remember Slip, slop, slap.
2. As a cream. To treat acne you may use a small amount of our ALLEVIATE on your blemishes after you have washed the area. Remember to do a spot check before applying to large areas. You can check with your doctor if you have any concerns about using Zinc Oxide.
3. As a healer Using ALLEVIATE to heal a wound. Clean the wound first, apply to the top of the wound and cover. You may wish to wrap a bandage around the area. Or allow it to dry. You can apply ALLEVIATE whenever you feel the need.
Precautions and side effects Zinc Oxide does not cause any severe side effects. Products containing Zinc Oxide could be combined with other ingredients that may cause symptoms. In the rare case you develop any side effects, please seek medical help. Also, if you are already allergic to this particular ingredient, avoid using it. In case you have any other allergy or skin condition, consult your doctor before using topical Zinc Oxide. It may worsen the situation rather than doing any good for your skin. If you are pregnant or lactating, please consult your doctor before using any product with Zinc Oxide.
Useful tips 1. Always do a patch test before using Zinc Oxide on the skin. 2. Never apply to fresh, bleeding wounds. 3. If you have dry skin, use ALLEVIATE along with a moisturiser to prevent your skin from drying out. We suggest using our Goat Milk Moisturiser. 4. If you are using any medication, consult your doctor before using ALLEVIATE 5. DO NOT use Zinc Oxide as an internal medicine. 6. Avoid using Zinc Oxide near your eyes. Zinc Oxide is mostly safe for all skin types. It suits sensitive and acne-prone skin.
Lets have a look at what goat milk brings to the table… Weather you’re drinking it, eating it or using it on the skin, there’s much to learn about the benefits of goat milk. Here we look at consuming this amazing liquid.
I’ll try not to nerd out too much below, but it’s so interesting…
Goat milk is a great source of vitamins and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin and many more. It’s also rich in fatty acids (check them out for massive health benefits). While goat milk is gaining popularity in Australia, goat milk is one of the most consumed milk drinks in the rest of the world. And it’s easy to see why drinking goat’s milk is so popular.
Drinking goat milk is easier to digest as the fat globules are smaller (think goats cheese vs cow cheese). Only 2% of goat milk is curd compared to about 10% in cow milk. This allows your body to digest without the irritation that can be caused by cow milk. I have heard many stories of people who themselves cannot tolerate cow milk and they made the switch to goat milk, Mums raising their kids on goat milk. And many more stories.
But why?
Well, most people who are intolerant of cow milk are actually sensitive to one of the proteins found in it, A1 Casein, and lack the ability to digest it. Additionally, cow milk is the No.1 allergy among children and can persist throughout adulthood. This is because not only the A1 allergen but there is more than 20 different allergens that can cause allergic reactions.
Without going into too much detail about cow milk, (after all we are here for the goats!) the A1 Casein is highly inflammatory and can contribute to gastrointestinal issues, and some allergies can be downright painful, ranging from hives, and runny noses, to abdominal cramping and colic in babies.
So… then we look at goat milk. Here comes the saviour!!
Goat Milk contains only A2 casein. That makes it, protein-wise, the closest milk to human breast milk.
High in calcium.
We all have heard the stories and the push to drink milk to give us the calcium we all need. But don’t worry, goat milk has it covered too. It’s actually richer in Calcium! Goat milk contains about 33 % of the daily recommended value in one cup compared to only 28% in cow milk. Calcium is essential for many aspects of health. But the number one reason we need it is for our bones. In fact, 99% of calcium in your body is found in the bones and teeth. It helps boost bone mass and provides the tissue with its strength to maximise bone strength.
Vitamin A
Goat milk is also an excellent source of vitamin A. Studies show that consuming enough vitamin A can help reduce your risk of cataracts, certain forms of cancer, and even help children fight off measles.
Lets bring down cholesterol
One of the top goat milk benefits is the therapeutic effects on our heart health. This is because goat milk has high levels, 30-35% of medium-chain fatty acids as opposed to 15-20% in cows milk.
Instead of being stored as body fat, these fatty acids provide an energy boost to help lower cholesterol. They can even help treat conditions like coronary heart disease and intestinal disorders.
Goat milk also helps increase the ‘good’ Cholesterol levels while reducing the bad ones. In fact, it has similar healing properties to Olive oil and is recommended for keeping high cholesterol in check.
What else could it possibly do?
How about it enhances nutrient absorption.
With all the good minerals found in goat milk, the nutrients like iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus were more easily digested and used by the body in goat milk rather than cow milk. Because of the bioavailability of these minerals, it has been used to treat some nutritional deficiencies like anaemia and bone demineralization. It’s also very well used to treat the all -too-common Iron deficiency and magnesium deficiency as well.
In fact, some researchers suggest that goat milk should be consumed regularly by individuals with malabsorption issues, anaemia, osteoporosis and prolonged treatments with iron supplements.
Regularly consuming goat milk enhances the body’s ability to use iron. It also boosts regeneration of haemoglobin. Combined, this makes goat milk the safe and natural way to treat many ailments.
What goat milk does for the skin when we consume it?
Well the fatty acids and triglycerides that are found in goat milk will not only keep everything running smoothly on the inside but they can help you look great on the outside too. Their moisturising qualities help to keep the skin baby soft.
Goat milk has high levels of Vitamin A. Studies indicate that Vitamin A can improve your complexion, fight acne, and improve overall skin health. Meanwhile the Lactic Acid found in goat milk, helps rid your body of dead skin cells and promotes skin smoothness and thickness.
Because the pH level in goat milk is similar to human pH, its absorbed by the skin with less irritation and also helps keep bacteria at bay. For this reason, many people often add goat milk to their natural skin care routines.
If you’re ready to add goat milk to your family’s diet, you have several options. To really maximise the health benefits, you can try raw goat milk. You might have to do some hunting around for it though. Try the local farmers market, any goat farmers or dairy might sell direct to the consumer. You won’t find raw unpasteurised goat milk at the supermarket. The Australian laws state that all milk must be pasteurised. But with pasteurising, you kill off all the good along with the bad bacteria. 🙁
If you can’t get raw goat milk in your area, there are plenty of other options. Chat with your local health food shop or chemist for alternatives.
You can also try Goat milk Kefir. This is a fermented drink that increases the good bacteria to keep you healthy and support nutrient absorption in the gut. The probiotics found in this milk drink can help improve intestinal health, enhance immune function, prevent diarrhoea and manage cholesterol levels.
You can also try goat milk yogurt. The probiotic benefits may help to support healthy digestions, lower your risk of diabetes, support weight loss and reduce high blood pressure. Try it with fruit or granola for a healthy breakfast or snack.
Goat cheeses are also another option, packed with probiotics and available around the country. The options are endless with goat cheese. My fave, Goat cheese and beetroot. Yummo.
So.. how do you make the switch?
Goat milk is available at most supermarkets and health food shops (although always pasteurised, it’s still full of goodness). If you’re nervous about the flavour, start incorporating your goat milk with other flavours. (The best way to start goat milk, I think, is in chilled smoothies.) When you’re ready to start using goat milk in your recipes, there are a few things to keep in mind. Basically you can substitute for cow milk. However, when it’s heated there can be a distinct “goat milk“ flavour. Those who are long-time fans of goat milk might not mind, but it can be a turn off for the newbies. Goat milk is especially tasty in desert recipes. It gives your favourite sweets a creamy, melt in the mouth texture.
Ok so onto the not so good stuff.. Side effects.
Although goat milk can be super healthy and nutritious, there are disadvantages that should be considered as well. One of the side effects include digestive issues like gas or bloating, this is because goat milk does contain a small amount of lactose. Although its much lower than cow milk or other dairy products, it may still cause an issue for those with a severe intolerance to lactose. As always, its best to start with a low amount and increase your intake slowly, to assess your tolerance.
Whether you drink it, eat products made of it, or use it in your skincare routine. We all know that goat milk is amazing... Goat milk and goat milk products have been used for thousands of years. However, it has recently gained popularity as people are starting to realise the benefits of natural products.
Pepeta and her herd
Here we dive a little deeper into the reasons why goat milk soap is just so damn good.
Goat Milk soap is made using the traditional soap making process known as saponification, which involves combining an acid, fats and oils with a base called Lye. It gently cleanses your skin but has no nasty chemicals like some of the regular store-bought soaps.
It’s great for dry, acne and problem skin. Unlike commercial soaps that contain detergents and synthetic vitamins, our goat milk soap retains it’s natural properties throughout the soaping process to pass those benefits into your skin.
In most soaps, Lye is made by combining water and sodium hydroxide, however, when making goat milk soaps, we use goat milk instead of water, allowing for a creamier consistency due to the naturally occurring fats.
Goat milk is rich in both saturated and unsaturated fats, making it ideal for soap production. Saturated fats increase the soap’s lather (production of bubbles) while the unsaturated fats provide moisturising and nourishing properties.
We then combine a range of natural plant oils with our goat milk to provide a luxurious bar of soap. (more on those plant oils in another post)
“What we started off trying to do, is make a luxurious bar of soap for anyone to use, weather your skin is dry, oily, combination, young or old, sensitive or can take a lot of wear. We wanted a soap that everyone will love. We achieved that goal, now we want the world to know just how good natural goat milk soap is.”
So what are the benefits of goat milk soap?
Nutrient Rich
Goat milk contains vitamins and other skin nourishing nutrients – Vitamins C, D, B and A, as well as zinc, proteins, fatty acids. Selenium and iron that are absorbed into the skin. Goat milk soap is high in Vitamins A and E which help to rejuvenate your skin, and helps to reduce lines and wrinkles.
Goat milk is also rich in fatty acids and cholesterol, which makes up a large portion of the skin membrane. A lack of these components in your skin can lead to dryness and irritation. So Goat milk soap can soothe and hydrate skin when replacing these components.
Dry skin (Xerosis) is a condition caused by low water levels in the skin. Normally, your skin’s lipid barrier slows moisture loss. That’s why low lipid levels can lead to excess moisture loss and dry, irritated, and tight skin. People with certain dry skin conditions, namely psoriasis and eczema, often have lower levels of lipids, such as cholesterol, ceramides, and fatty acids, in their skin.
To improve dry skin, the lipid barrier must be restored and rehydrated. Goat milk soap’s high cholesterol and fatty acid levels may replace missing fats while providing moisture to allow for better water retention.
Goat milk soap contains a huge amount of a nutrient which skin absolutely loves – Vitamin A. These high levels make it a good choice in the fight against acne.
“If you are suffering from acne, Goat milk soap could actually be good for you. Its exfoliating properties help to remove the dead skin that’s causing your pores to clog and produce that unwanted acne, Goat milk soap opens up your pores treating acne at the root of the problem, delaying the growth of microbial organisms that cause acne.”
Cleansing
Most commercially made soaps contain harsh surfactants that can strip your skin of its natural moisture, and oils leaving it feeling dry and tight. Goat milk soap boasts high amounts of fats, particularly caprylic acid, allowing for gentle removal of dirt and debris without removing the skins naturally fatty acids.
Our lovely Elsa giving us some beautiful milk for soaping.
A natural Exfoliant
Goat milk contains compounds that may exfoliate your skin, Alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs) are used to treat a variety of skin conditions, such as scars, age spots & hyperpigmentation.
Lactic Acid is a naturally occurring AHA found in goats milk, and it’s been shown to gently remove the top layer of dead skin cells, allowing for a more youthful complexion. Lactic acid is also known as one of the gentlest AHAs making it a suitable option for those with sensitive skin.
“Over time, if dead skin cells are left on the skin they will build up on the surface causing your skin to age. Many of our soap users have told us that their skin feels smoother after using our soap.”
Due to its gentle dirt removing properties, Goat milk soap doesn’t strip the skin of its natural lipids or healthy bacteria. Maintaining your skin’s microbiome improves its barrier against pathogens, potentially preventing various skin conditions like acne and eczema.
Goat milk also contains probiotics like Lactobacillus, which is responsible for producing that wonderful lactic acid, Lactobacillus has been shown to have anti-inflammatory effects on the body, including the skin.
Brighten and tone.
Lactic Acid strikes again! The process that helps to make your skin look and feel younger is gentle and moisturising. Goat milk proteins are known to reduce hyperpigmentation and darkening of the skin. Using Goat milk soap on a daily basis will remove those unwanted dead skin cells, leaving your skin with the desired youthful appearance. While the probiotics help to protect the skin from harmful ultraviolet light.
its messy work… but its worth it
Goat milk also has natural glycerin.
Glycerin penetrates the skin surface leaving a thin layer of moisture after use. Glycerin is a humectant, a type of moisturising agent that pulls water into the outer layer of your skin from deeper levels of your skin and the air. Glycerine also helps to improve the skins natural barrier and provide protection against skin irritants while accelerating wound healing.
Because of its nourishing qualities, Goat milk soap and lotion is used for conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. Try our Unscented products for best success!
“Often factory made soap are made with cheap ingredients that you can’t pronounce, harsh chemicals and detergents that are drying and irritating. On the other hand, our Goat milk soaps are created with oils, milk and lye that do not contain these harsh ingredients. Our handmade Goat milk soap provides great chemical free options that have many benefits listed above.”
Natural: Adjective : Existing in or derived from nature; not made or caused by humankind.
Currently, I’m looking out of my window at our little Calendula flowers, still a little wet from the shower earlier today. Reminding myself that, before the sun sets, I must go pick some flowers to dry out for my next batch of Calendula Goat milk soap. Beside my flower bed are my various fruit trees. I watch them in anticipation as the little marble sized lemons and limes slowly get bigger day by day, not knowing that they will eventually make an amazing gentle soap for my customers. Beyond our front yard, I look over to the paddocks. There are the mini goats, chomping away on the grass, knowing that in a few hours, its milking time. That milk, will then be used for our moisturising creams and soaps. In the distance, I see the array of native trees, (tea tree, Eucalyptus, Wattles) that will be pruned and used in some of our products.
The Standard refers to natural ingredients as “Ingredients extracted directly from nature such as flora, fauna and mineral products as opposed to being produced synthetically.”
Key word there is, “extracted directly”. In the case of some ingredients, it’s easy to see that they fit easily into this definition.
In the case of raw materials that need to undergo some processing in order to extract the ingredient from the natural raw material that is the source: Distilling aromatic plants to produce essential oils sometimes results in the creation of chemicals that didn’t exist in the raw material, but which are created by the actual distillation process alone!
The “Encyclopaedia of Common Natural Ingredients” says a natural product is defined as: “A product that is derived from plant, animal or microbial sources, primarily through physical processing, sometimes facilitated by simple chemical reactions such as acidification, basification, ion exchange, hydrolysis, and salt formation as well as microbial fermentation. These chemical reactions do not drastically alter the chemical structure of the natural product to be isolated.”
Sometimes its easy to see natural products and sometimes its not as clear.
In this day and age, with QR codes and websites and information galore its easy find which product is natural, synthetic or something in between. We all have seen the words “ Made from natural ingredients” But… if we look back on the whole world…. Isn’t everything made from natural products and just processed over and over and over again, added synthetics etc, until we have something we all know, but would not think of as Natural. Lets take a car for example. NOT NATURAL. But if you look at the steel in the car, which comes from Iron Ore a mineral, and processed again and again then processed more to get to what we know it as, say- a car door or steering wheel The wiring that turns on the lights of the car, that wire is made with Copper, which is, you guessed it, from the ground. A natural product. You get where I’m going with this. Everything started from earth. And processed again and again until what you get left with is nasty chemically processed and pollution generating, disposable product. Its sad but true. We were given this earth with what it has on it, and look what happened.
Kind of getting off track here. But you can see my point. Everything comes from the earth. BUT. Its what we do with it that makes the difference.
What we do is make our products from its purest form possible.
Thankfully a new trend has begun. People are aware now and are turning to natural products. Not just because its healthier and safer for them, but because, its environmentally friendly, ethically sourced and reduces pollution and waste. The positives from natural products outweigh the synthetic products miles. (more on this in an upcoming blog post)
Our all natural Goat Milk Soap with Lavender & Rosemary – Our goats milk, our rosemary and lavender grown organically in our front yard, picked, dried and infused into the soap.
Looking at product labels gives me a headache. How many times have you looked at the ingredients in a label and say “ Whats that?” I do! Oh, there’s one ingredient I recognise- ‘Aqua’. yay! (insert sarcasm here)
So why all the fancy names? Well, cause there isn’t a name for something that used to be something that used to be called something else.
I want to see names of things I know and I hope you do too. If it has Coconut oil in it, we write COCONUT OIL. Not -Cocos Nucifera Its that simple. We are transparent with our labelling so you know exactly what is in our products. There is one ingredient which we have to put the specific name on the label. It is called OLIVEM 1000 I was a little concerned when I was first recommended this product. Why does it look like a chemical with numbers in its name? What is this stuff? Answer: Natural Olive Emulsifying Wax (also known as Olivem 1000) is an all-natural derived, 100% plant based emulsifying wax. It is preservative free, non ionic, not ethoxylated, PEG-Free, and self emulsifying, derived from olive oil. We will always strive to provide clean and clear ingredients for all our products. If you ever have any questions, please ask, we are happy to help.
Our vision is to evolve and expand our range of natural products for all skin types but specially for those with skin conditions. Like myself, these people have struggled with skin irritation, redness, rashes, acne and many more. We are here for you. We want only the best for you all. So, will do our best for all.
OurNatural Ingredient Standard
Natural Ingredients include
Plant, animal, mineral or microbial ingredients…
Present in or produced by nature.
Produced using minimal physical processing.
Directly extracted using simple methods, simple chemical reactions or resulting from naturally occurring biological processes.
Natural ingredients are…
Grown, harvested, raised and processed in an environmentally friendly manner
Not produced synthetically.
Free of all petrochemicals.
Not extracted or processed using petrochemicals.
Not extracted or processed using anything other than natural ingredients as solvents.
Not exposed to irradiation.
Not genetically engineered & do not contain GMOs (genetically modified organisms).
Natural ingredients do…
Not contain synthetic ingredients.
Not contain artificial ingredients including colours or flavouring.
Not contain synthetic chemical preservatives
We grow our own herbs and botanicals right here on our farm. Organically of course
Botanicals about to steep
Making Stanthorpe Honey Soap
Calendula Flowers to be picked and dried
Shea Butter – one of our most used ingredients
Chamomile Flowers to be dried
GET IN TOUCH
Nelly is always available for side collaborations and talks worldwide. If you want to chat about natural products, goats, or anything else, don’t hesitate in reaching out.
First Fleet Lisa & First Fleet Carmen At Ivydale Nigerian Dwarf Stud
First Fleet Lisa with her triplets at Ivydale Stud.
Vol.1
When you need more milk. But want mini goats.
We all know Pippinwood is about mini goats… But when the time came to step up our natural skincare business, there was only one option. Enter The Nigerian Dwarf goat.
These beautiful little creatures are still new to Australia. With their beautiful personality, gentle nature and abundance of milk, I’m sure many are going to fall in love with them just like we have.
Our goat milk soaps and lotions all start off with fresh milk straight from our goats. With some of our goats only producing enough milk for their kids, we leave them to be mothers, while we milk some girls that give us milk ranging from 500ml -1200ml.
Our new additions are little dairy type goats that are on average half the size of an average dairy goat. They produce an average of 1.8 litres of milk. In addition to their abundance of milk, Their butterfat percentage ranges from, on average, 6%-10% which means… More creamier soaps, more bubbles, more moisturising bars of soap and lotions. Within this luxurious liquid contains vitamins, minerals, trace elements, electrolytes, enzymes, and proteins all well accepted by the human skin. Our aim is to have our goat milk products made from our Nigerian dwarf milk and continue to breed them to their Australian and American Standards. We are lucky to have some lovely fellow breeders in our life that have offered us some special girls. With friendships forged in the love of these little creatures, we will work together to share with the world, the Nigerian Dwarfs. We would like to thank Tippy Toes Miniature Goats- https://www.tippytoesminigoats.com.au/ Ivydale Nigerian Dwarf Stud- https://www.ivydaleminigoats.com/ Mulga Miniatures – https://www.mulgaminiatures.com.au/
Did you know?
Milking animals such as goats & cows living at higher altitudes and colder climates produce more cream? As the temperatures drop, so can milk production. When it is cold, these ladies can divert their energy into maintaining body temperature instead of producing as much milk. But the quality is still there in the form of Cream/butterfat. Think of it like condensed milk… sort of. Again… more cream… better soaps & Lotions.
(Although, Our goats are all tucked in to their beds/pens every night).
